Once the doors opened an hour after the Galesburg Education Association met in silent protest, roughly 150 community members and GEA members clad in blue entered the board room with another 100 waiting outside. Over the course of an hour and a half, 22 individuals stood up to talk about their concerns with the District 205 teachers strike that began last week as well as to address the Community Eligibility Provision, a program that can allow all students in low-income schools to receive free meals.

The first to speak was Amy Pickrel, a resident of Cameron, who had spoken on the topic of the Community Eligibility Provision during a July board meeting.

As Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations David Black explained, money from the provision could result in $100,000 coming into the district as well as provide students of Lombard, Steele, King and Nielson schools free lunches regardless of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility.

“I don’t understand how the school board can turn down any amount of money,” Pickrel said, adding that the federal government is already involved in the schools, leaving no reason to vote down the provision.

Following her plea, person after person spoke on matters ranging from the Community Eligibility Provision to mold in the schools to respecting teachers.

When Luan Statham, chief negotiator for the GEA, walked to the podium, the crowd instantly stood. Speaking on the lunch program, she discussed her own humiliation as a child having to tell her name at Churchill Junior High every time she received a free lunch.

Speaking on the GEA’s cause, she requested that the board of education end the strike and agree to the teachers’ most recent proposal, which was handed to the board members. As Statham returned to her seat the audience applauded, continuing their cheers through a banging gavel trying to restore order.

While no decision was made Monday night to end the strike, the board did pass the Community Eligibility Provision with a unanimous vote.